Golf club and head

ABSTRACT

The present invention a golf club head comprises a receiving member aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a shaft aperture for mounting one end of a club shaft therein and a club face aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a concave striking surface for striking a golf ball; and a connecting web rigidly joining the club face to the receiving member wherein the entire club head being aligned symmetrically about the club centerline such that the golf head suitable for use by a right or left handed player.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to golfing and golf clubs and particularly relates to a unique golf club head and golf club design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Golf clubs are designed for people who earn their living playing golf, namely professionals. Professionals spend endless hours perfecting their craft using state of the art equipment which requires unnatural body movements in order to achieve any degree of proficiency and accuracy. Professionals succeed because of the large amount of time that they are able to devote to their sport in order to perfect their techniques.

[0003] Professionals account for less than 1% of all golfers. The other 99% more or less suffer to some degree in frustration and disappointment because of their inability to master and/or perfect their technique to any extent. Unfortunately, there are no alternatives available on the market currently which would provide a solution for amateur golfers to allow them to perfect their technique and allow them to play the game on a more enjoyable level. The purpose of this new inventive approach to golfing is to provide golfing equipment that is inherently simple and only requires natural body movements for golfers to reach a better degree of proficiency and subsequent enjoyment of the game of golf.

[0004] This inventive approach provides a number of unique golf clubs and golf head designs which are designed for people who are satisfied to play the game with only a minimal of equipment and to those who use a full set of easy to use golf clubs desirous of obtaining greater proficiency and exhilarating enjoyment of the game.

[0005] In addition, there are an enormous amount of people who would like to play golf, however, during their life time suffer from back and other problems. A large number of golfers and former golfers can no longer play the game of golf, using present unnatural and difficult body movements because of the current golf club designs. The golf clubs designed with this new inventive approach, minimizes back wrenching movements using only simple head and arm motion.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for golf equipment in the market place which will allow amateur golfers to achieve a greater proficiency in a shorter period of time and also allows people with disabilities such as back problems to be able to enjoy the game without causing physical discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention a golf club head comprises:

[0008] a) a receiving member aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a shaft aperture for mounting one end of a club shaft therein,

[0009] b) a club face aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a concave striking surface for striking a golf ball; and

[0010] c) a means for connecting said receiving member to said club face wherein said entire club head being aligned symmetrically about said club centerline such that said golf head suitable for use by a right or left handed player.

[0011] Preferably wherein said radius of said concave striking surface being defined by a face radius r_(f.)

[0012] Preferably wherein said club face including face relief portions proximate a lower left side and lower right side of said club face.

[0013] Preferably wherein said connecting means including a connecting web rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.

[0014] Preferably wherein said connecting means including a transition section rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.

[0015] Preferably wherein said connecting means dimensioned to provide for a club face angle theta, between 10° and 90°.

[0016] Preferably wherein said connecting means includes a means for adjusting a club face angle theta between 10° and 90°.

[0017] Preferably wherein said adjusting means including cooperating intermeshing first and second splines which can be rotated relative each other and locked together to hold a preselected club face angle.

[0018] In an alternate embodiment the present invention a golf club comprises:

[0019] a) a golf club shaft;

[0020] b) a receiving member aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a shaft aperture for mounting one end of said club shaft therein,

[0021] c) a club face aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a concave striking surface for striking a golf ball; and

[0022] d) a means for connecting said receiving member to said club face wherein said entire club head being aligned symmetrically about said club centerline such that said golf head suitable for use by a right or left handed player.

[0023] Preferably wherein said radius of said concave striking surface being defined by a face radius r_(f.)

[0024] Preferably wherein said club face including face relief portions proximate a lower left side and lower right side of said club face.

[0025] Preferably wherein said connecting means including a connecting web rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.

[0026] Preferably wherein said connecting means including a transition section rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.

[0027] Preferably wherein said connecting means dimensioned to provide for a club face angle theta, between 10° and 90°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will now be described by an example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention a golf club including a new improved golf head.

[0030]FIG. 2 is an alternate embodiment and schematic perspective view of the present invention a golf club and unique club head.

[0031]FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a golfer in the set position.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the golfer shown in the back swing position.

[0033]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a golfer in the following through position using the new clubs.

[0034]FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as a putter.

[0035]FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as a driver and/or wood.

[0036]FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as conventional iron and wedges would be.

[0037]FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as a putter.

[0038]FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as a driver and/or wood.

[0039]FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the present invention a golf club for use as conventional iron and wedges would be.

[0040]FIG. 12 is a front schematic plan view of an alternate embodiment of the golf club head.

[0041]FIG. 13 is a side elevational schematic view of the alternative embodiment of the club head shown in FIG. 12.

[0042]FIG. 14 is an alternate embodiment of a golf club head shown in perspective view.

[0043]FIG. 15 is a side plan view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 14.

[0044]FIG. 16 is a front plan elevational schematic view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 14.

[0045]FIG. 17 is a top schematic plan view of the golf club head.

[0046]FIG. 18 is a top schematic plan view of the golf club head.

[0047]FIG. 19 is a top schematic plan view of the golf club head.

[0048]FIG. 20 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a golf club head.

[0049]FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0050] The present invention a golf club shown generally as 40 in FIG. 1 includes the following major components; club face 42, connecting web 44, receiving member 46, shaft 48, shaft aperture 49, club centre line 50, club face radius 52, face relief 54 and face thickness 56.

[0051] It is apparent from FIG. 1 that club face 42 is designed to be symmetrical about centre line 50 and club face 42 further defines a face radius 52 also symmetrical about centre line 50. Striking surface 53 which is concave defines the area of club head 41 which is for striking a golf ball, club face 42 further includes face relief section 54 proximate a lower left side 59 and lower right side 57.

[0052] In an alternate embodiment, golf club 140 as shown in FIG. 2 also includes club face 42, shaft aperture 49, centre line 50 and shaft 58, however replaces connecting web 44 and receiving member 46 with a single element namely, transition section 60. The major difference between golf club 140 and golf club 40 as shown in FIG. 1 is the substitution of connecting web 44 and receiving member 46 with a transition section 60 which simplifies the design of golf club 140.

[0053] A person skilled in the art will recognize that both golf club 40 and golf club 140 are built so that they are symmetrical about club centre line 50. In other words, golf club 40 and golf club 140 could just as easily be used by a left handed or a right handed golfer.

[0054]FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a person swinging and hitting the ball with either golf club 40 or golf club 140 wherein in FIG. 3 the golf ball is being teed up by the golfer; in FIG. 4 showing the back swing of the golfer and in FIG. 5 showing the follow through of the swing of the golfer.

[0055] Golf Club 40 and 140 are designed to minimize body movement to provide for minimization of twisting and rotating of shoulder, torso, legs and arms which is accomplished by lining up the entire body parallel to the golf ball after which only the head is forward to look at the golf ball. Preferably the fingers do not interlock as is the usual procedure when gripping a golf club and after addressing the ball, the golf club, the golfer without turning his shoulders or torso and using a straight arm pose pushes the club to a maximum back swing to his right, if right handed and then swings the club downward to connect with the golf ball in a straight line and as the golf ball flies away, the golfer follows through the ball with the golf club (follow through) at the same time rotating only his head in the direction of the golf ball as it is receding through the air.

[0056] A person skilled in the art will readily see that the number of body movements is substantially reduced to the point where every body movement is in a straight line, thus obtaining a certain desirable degree of accuracy not easily accomplished using present golf clubs without tremendous practise and dedication. Golf clubs 40 and 140 are designed for use by either right or left handed golfers and since the amount of motion is minimized and the golfer does not have to rotate shoulders and torsos, persons with back problems and other muscular skeletal problems can now safely participate in relative comfort using this golf club.

[0057] Now referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIG. 6 is a representation of golf club 140 shown as a putter, FIG. 7 is a representation of a golf club 140 shown as a driver and FIG. 8 is a representation of a golf club 40 shown as an iron.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 6, you will see that the major components of golf club 140 include the club face 42, transition section 60, shaft 48 and the club face 42 defining a club face angle theta shown as 80 which is more or less 90°.

[0059] Similarly FIG. 7 shows golf club 140 including club face 42, transition section 60, shaft 48, wherein club face angle theta shown as 80 is less than 90° and is angled in similar fashion to modem day woods or drivers.

[0060]FIG. 8 shows golf club 40 comprised of club face 42, connecting web 44, receiving member 46, shaft 48, wherein club face 42 defines club face angle theta shown as 80 which is angled in similar fashions to modem day irons or wedges.

[0061] A person skilled in the art will see that golf club 40 type construction having club head 41 is preferably employed for the use of irons, wherein the club face angle theta shown as 80 can easily be changed by changing the angle of connecting web 44 wherein the club face dimensions and other geometry remains constant over the range of irons thereby minimizing the amount of changes required in order to manufacture a series of irons.

[0062] Preferably as shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the putter and the drivers and the woods preferably manufactured in accordance with the type shown as golf club 140 in FIG. 2 having the type of club head 141 as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the transition section and the club face are integrally made out of one component.

[0063] Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 showing an alternate arrangement between the club head 141 and the shaft 48 in FIG. 9, club head 141 which includes club face 42 at a club face angle 30 theta shown as 80 and transition section 60 wherein the major difference between golf club 140 shown in FIG. 6 and golf club 140 shown in this FIG. 9 is the shaft angle alpha shown as 90. Angle alpha shown as 90 can range from 85° to 60°.

[0064]FIG. 10 having a club head 141 including a club face 42, a transition section 60, mounted such that the club face is mounted at an angle theta 80 relative to the horizontal and again shaft 48, mounted at a shaft angle alpha shown as 90, relative to the horizontal.

[0065]FIG. 11, shows golf club 40 including club head 41, including club face 42, connecting web 44, receiving member 46, shaft 48, wherein club face 42 is mounted on an angle theta shown as 80 relative to the horizontal and shaft 48 is mounted at a shaft angle alpha shown as 90 relative to the horizontal.

[0066]FIG. 9 is representative of a putter for example, wherein the angle theta shown as 80 would be 90°. FIG. 10 is representatives of woods or drivers, wherein the angle theta being similar to that found on conventional woods and/or drivers. FIG. 11 showing golf club 40 is an example of how the conventional irons numbered 1 to 9 would be constructed having an angle theta shown as 80, similar to conventional irons and/or wedges.

[0067]FIGS. 12 and 13 show an alternate arrangement for club heads shown generally as 241 having a club face 42 as shown in FIG. 12, and face relief portions 54 as shown in diagram 12.

[0068]FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 show an alternate type club head geometry shown generally as 341 including a transition section 60 which is cylindrical in shape and including a club face 42 and shaft 48, similar to the previous embodiments.

[0069]FIG. 17 is an alternate embodiment of the club head shown in FIG. 1, namely club head 41 having a face radius 52 shown as R_(F), a club face 42, a connecting web 44, a receiving member 46, and a shaft aperture 49.

[0070]FIGS. 18 and 19 are top plan views of club head 141 shown in FIG. 2, showing two alternative geometries, including transition section 60, shaft aperture 49 and club face 42.

[0071] An alternate embodiment to the present invention is shown as club head 441 in FIGS. 20 and 21, which is an all purpose adjustable club having a club face 42 and a first spline 442 cooperating with the second spline 44 which is lockable using an adjusting screw 446. First spline 442 is connected to a receiving member 448 and second spline 444 is connected to the club face 42 such that by cooperatively meshing together first spline 442 and second spline 444 in a preselected relationship, club face angle theta shown as 80 can be selected simply by loosening off first spline 442 from second spline 444 using adjusting screw 446 and adjusting first spline relative to second spline to the desired angle producing the club face angle theta 80, thereby being able to use one club head 441 to provide for a number of different angles any where from putter all the way up to driver including irons and wedges.

[0072] It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim. 

I claim:
 1. A golf club head comprising: a) a receiving member aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a shaft aperture for mounting one end of a club shaft therein, b) a club face aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a concave striking surface for striking a golf ball; and c) a means for connecting said receiving member to said club face wherein said entire club head being aligned symmetrically about said club centerline such that said golf head suitable for use by a right or left handed player.
 2. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said radius of said concave striking surface being defined by a face radius r_(f.)
 3. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said club face including face relief portions proximate a lower left side and lower right side of said club face.
 4. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means including a connecting web rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.
 5. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means including a transition section rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.
 6. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means dimensioned to provide for a club face angle theta, between 10° and 90°.
 7. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a means for adjusting a club face angle theta between 10° and 90°.
 8. The golf head claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means including cooperating intermeshing first and second splines which can be rotated relative each other and locked together to hold a preselected club face angle.
 9. A golf club comprising: a) a golf club shaft; b) a receiving member aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a shaft aperture for mounting one end of said club shaft therein, c) a club face aligned symmetrically about a club centerline and including a concave striking surface for striking a golf ball; and d) a means for connecting said receiving member to said club face wherein said entire club head being aligned symmetrically about said club centerline such that said golf head suitable for use by a right or left handed player.
 10. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said radius of said concave striking surface being defined by a face radius r_(f)
 11. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said club face including face relief portions proximate a lower left side and lower right side of said club face.
 12. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said connecting means including a connecting web rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.
 13. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said connecting means including a transition section rigidly joining said club face too said receiving member.
 14. The golf head claimed in claim 10, wherein said connecting means dimensioned to provide for a club face angle theta, between 10° and 90°.
 15. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said connecting means includes a means for adjusting a club face angle theta between 10°0 and 90°.
 16. The golf head claimed in claim 9, wherein said adjusting means including cooperating intermeshing first and second splines which can be rotated relative each other and locked together to hold a preselected club face angle. 